Thirteen Madison County children boarded a charter bus last Sunday afternoon on their way to the 2016 New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute’s Summer Camp, located near Penn Yan, N.Y., on Keuka Lake. The Sheriffs’ Summer Camp provides a solid recreational program combined with the development of a sense of good citizenship. This will mark the 39th year of the camp’s operation.
The Sheriffs’ Summer Camp, which is located in Yates County, is supported by the Sheriffs’ Association Institute’s Honorary Members through their contributions and annual dues. This year the camp will accommodate over 900 deserving boys and girls from across New York State.
“The Sheriffs’ Summer Camp Program is designed to provide a child who ordinarily would not have the chance, an opportunity to go away during the summer,” said Madison County Sheriff Alan Riley. “The primary objective is to create positive interaction between the kids attending camp and the sheriffs and deputy sheriffs who participate in the camp programs. We have found from experiences during the first 38 summer camps that the kids develop a renewed respect and understanding for the men and women who enforce the laws. The deputies become their friends and in some cases substitute parents for a week.”
Riley also announced that Madison County Deputy Sheriff David Kroll will be at the camp throughout the week as a camp counselor, working with kids from all over New York State.
This year, 13 local kids are attending the Sheriff’s Summer Camp: Caidance Crandall of Erieville; Melody Cross-Barnes of Peterboro; Tristan Dawson of Cazenovia; Matilyn Hackett of Oneida; Christian Hoch of Oneida; Joshua Evans of Oneida; Rebecca McClure of Canastota; Kierra Shaughnessy of Canastota; Nicholas Crafton of Oneida; Joel Tifft of Morrisville; Jayden Webb of Canastota, Cariena Hummell of Oneida and Bella Crafton of Oneida.
Throughout the week-long stay, the children observe special exhibits and demonstrations presented by sheriffs’ offices from across the state. Included in these presentations are D.A.R.E. presentations, boat and bike safety programs, law enforcement equipment and technical demonstrations, archery competitions for accuracy and even a talent show just for fun. Upon completion of their stay, all children will be awarded a diploma for their participation in a program of “Good Citizenship and Law Enforcement Studies.”
The children departed for camp on Sunday, July 30 and will return from summer camp on Saturday, August 6.
